How will the new Defender fare against Dakar’s fastest cars?
Land Rover’s Defender has been a familiar sight in the Dakar Rally for many years, but the British brand has never before lined up with a full factory team. That will change in 2026: the Defender will foray into the world’s biggest rally-raid with three factory entries, with 14-time Dakar winner Stephane Peterhansel spearheading the […]
How concessions narrowed Ducati’s edge in MotoGP
Francesco Bagnaia and Michele Pirro believe Ducati’s rivals made effective use of MotoGP’s concession system to close the gap over the course of the 2025 season. Although Ducati swept all three world championships in 2025, helped by Marc Marquez’s arrival in the factory team, its dominance was challenged more frequently than in previous years. After losing just […]
“It wasn’t funny” – Piastri reflects on Alpine F1 contract saga
Oscar Piastri has reflected on the contractual saga that occurred in mid-2022, when he signed a McLaren Formula 1 deal as an Alpine junior. Piastri joined the Renault Sport Academy, as it was then called, for the 2020 season after narrowly clinching the Formula Renault Eurocup title. The Australian went on to win the F3 […]
Mattias Ekstrom leads Ford 1-2 in Prologue
Factory Ford driver Mattias Ekstrom drew first blood in the 2026 Dakar Rally, edging out team-mate Mitch Guthrie in Saturday’s Prologue. The 48th edition of Dakar kicked off in earnest on 3 January, with a total of 72 cars taking the start in the Ultimate class. The Prologue featured a 95km route around the Saudi […]
Why Ford is contributing more to Red Bull’s F1 engines than initially planned
Later this month, both Red Bull teams will get the first taste of the all-new in-house power unit and although the first winter test in Barcelona will take place behind closed doors, it’s still an important benchmark for both Ford and Red Bull. Ford Performance director Mark Rushbrook said the test will make clear whether […]
Juan Cruz Yacopini to miss 2026 Dakar Rally after sea diving incident
Juan Cruz Yacopini will miss the 2026 Dakar Rally after reportedly suffering serious injuries in a sea diving accident shortly before Christmas, although details have not yet been officially confirmed by his family. The Argentine driver was due to start his sixth Dakar Rally on Saturday, but that appearance has been ruled out. According to […]
“It’s more theory than practice”
Factory Ducati rider Marc Marquez has played down the prospect of a future return to Honda in MotoGP, describing the idea as “more theory than practice”. Despite ending his Honda deal a year early to join Gresini for the 2024 season, the seven-time MotoGP champion parted with the Japanese manufacturer on amicable terms. Marquez initially left the door […]